"All classes on the Monterey campus only -- with the exception of athletics -- are cancelled for the remainder of the day," the superintendent wrote.

Monterey police Lt. Leslie Sonne said the entire incident was like a "high end game of telephone."

"There is no indication that this was a prank," Sonne said, and rumors were fueled by text messages.

The incident began at 11 a.m. when police received reports that two armed robbers were possibly running toward Monterey Peninsula College.

A 65-year-old Santa Cruz man claimed he was robbed while sitting in his car in the area of Fishnet and Iris Canyon roads.

"The man told officers that he had been robbed by two Hispanic males wearing red shirts," Sonne said.

Law enforcers swarmed the area and ordered buildings to be placed on lockdown while they searched for a gunman. To help the manhunt, a helicopter circled overhead and numerous law enforcement agencies were called in.

"MPC on lockdown. Do not leave your classrooms and do not come to campus. This is not a drill," the college wrote on Twitter.

Rumors rapidly began flying around town.

One person called KSBW's newsroom and said his wife was being held hostage.

A student at the college texted her father stating that a shooting happened on campus, McGrath said. Her father called 911 and told officers there was a shooting at MPC.

The college was just about to lift the lockdown when the student's father told police that students heard shots being fired on campus, police called Tribley, and Tribley re-issued the campus-wide emergency alert at noon.

No one was ever in any danger, city spokeswoman Anne McGrath said.

In addition to the first student, Sonne said three more students and school employees texted their friends and family saying they saw a shooting on campus.

Police were able to track down all four text message senders.

"Ultimately, it was determined that the information relayed to the police dispatchers by the friends and family members was not accurate and none of the four people had seen anyone with a gun or heard any gunshots," Sonne said.

Furthermore, the Santa Cruz man who made started the entire incident by claiming he was robbed likely lied.

Officers said they found "significant inconsistencies in the man's statement and no physical evidence to support his statement."

Police determined a robbery never happened, there was never any gunman, and a shooting never occurred.